Cinereous Tinamou
Encyclopedia
The Cinereous Tinamou Crypturellus cinereus is a type of ground bird found in swamp and lowland forests in northern South America
. Cinereous Tinamou’s have been around for many centuries. They are part of the oldest families of the world today, and have fossils discovered dating back tens of millions of years. Their quick reflex
plays a role in their ability to survive.
s. Unlike other Ratites, Tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.
or Greek
words. kruptos meaning covered or hidden, oura meaning tail, and ellus meaning diminutive. Therefore Crypturellus means small hidden tail. The term cinereous
describes its colouration.
. It is approximately 30 cm (11.8 in) in length. It is recognized by its smoky-grey with reddish-brown crown and nape. Its dark phase is uniformly in sooty brown color. The Cinereous Tinamou body is mainly grey with a brownish red nape and crown. Their color helps them blend with the environment
making it harder for predators to detect them. The under parts of the bird are only slightly paler than the body, and the legs appear a dull orange. The females are generally slightly larger in size then the males.
heard mainly at dawn and dusk. Their whistles have a unique pitch and last almost two seconds between each whistle. Their whistles are mostly heard at dawn and dusk, and are monosyllabic. The bird is very capable of projecting its voice to seem like it came from another direction so hearing them and finding their exact location is very difficult. The call between the males and females are similar yet still noticeably different to the human ear. The Cinereous Tinamou is diurnal. When they are frightened or surprised they usually run off very quickly. Their instincts have adapted to act quickly since they live their lives on the ground and have to flee quickly to avoid predators so they are rarely seen by humans. They have a tendency to walk or run rather than to fly. They are capable of flight, but it is unusual and short. While the Cinereous Tinamou may only be in flight for a short duration
, their flight is strong and direct. They tend to occur either alone or in pairs, and generally do not travel in groups.
pest because of their large insect consumption. Although when the Cinereous Tinamou is young it is more dependent on insects than when they become adults. The Cinereous Tinamou does not scratch for food, but instead they look under leaves or use their bill to dig.
their eggs on the forest floor. They are also polygamous. The males will usually call out to attract the females. They lay about two eggs in season. These eggs appear salmon violet colored, and are considered very colorful. The young of cinereous tinamous are capable of moving around when they are hatched to the point that they can almost run as soon as they’re hatched.
is thick, dark, and dense.
, southern Venezuela
, Suriname
, Guyana
, French Guiana
, northern and western Brazil
, eastern Ecuador
, eastern Peru
, and northern Bolivia
.
, with an occurrence range of 5900000 km² (2,278,002.7 sq mi).
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Cinereous Tinamou’s have been around for many centuries. They are part of the oldest families of the world today, and have fossils discovered dating back tens of millions of years. Their quick reflex
Reflex
A reflex action, also known as a reflex, is an involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus. A true reflex is a behavior which is mediated via the reflex arc; this does not apply to casual uses of the term 'reflex'.-See also:...
plays a role in their ability to survive.
Taxonomy
The Cinereous Tinamou is a monotypic species. All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also RatiteRatite
A ratite is any of a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanan origin, most of them now extinct. Unlike other flightless birds, the ratites have no keel on their sternum—hence the name from the Latin ratis...
s. Unlike other Ratites, Tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.
Etymology
Crypturellus is formed from three LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
or Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
words. kruptos meaning covered or hidden, oura meaning tail, and ellus meaning diminutive. Therefore Crypturellus means small hidden tail. The term cinereous
Cinereous
Cinereous is a colour, meaning ashy grey in appearance, either consisting of or resembling ashes, or a grey colour tinged with coppery brown. It is derived from the Latin cinereous, from cinis ....
describes its colouration.
Description
The Cinereous Tinamou is a shy and secretive TinamouTinamou
The tinamous are a family comprising 47 species of birds found in Central and South America. One of the most ancient living groups of bird, they are related to the ratites. Generally ground dwelling, they are found in a range of habitats....
. It is approximately 30 cm (11.8 in) in length. It is recognized by its smoky-grey with reddish-brown crown and nape. Its dark phase is uniformly in sooty brown color. The Cinereous Tinamou body is mainly grey with a brownish red nape and crown. Their color helps them blend with the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
making it harder for predators to detect them. The under parts of the bird are only slightly paler than the body, and the legs appear a dull orange. The females are generally slightly larger in size then the males.
Behavior
The Cinereous Tinamou is specially known to be easy to hear, but very difficult to see. It has a loud distinctive whistleWhistle
A whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
heard mainly at dawn and dusk. Their whistles have a unique pitch and last almost two seconds between each whistle. Their whistles are mostly heard at dawn and dusk, and are monosyllabic. The bird is very capable of projecting its voice to seem like it came from another direction so hearing them and finding their exact location is very difficult. The call between the males and females are similar yet still noticeably different to the human ear. The Cinereous Tinamou is diurnal. When they are frightened or surprised they usually run off very quickly. Their instincts have adapted to act quickly since they live their lives on the ground and have to flee quickly to avoid predators so they are rarely seen by humans. They have a tendency to walk or run rather than to fly. They are capable of flight, but it is unusual and short. While the Cinereous Tinamou may only be in flight for a short duration
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
, their flight is strong and direct. They tend to occur either alone or in pairs, and generally do not travel in groups.
Diet
The food habits of the Cinereous Tinamou depend on the season and habitat although they are mostly herbivorous. In the summer their diet consists of small fruits, seeds, and small invertebrates. Although in the winter time they usually eat a wide variety of seeds or berries collected on the ground. They are considered a benefit to the nature for insectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
pest because of their large insect consumption. Although when the Cinereous Tinamou is young it is more dependent on insects than when they become adults. The Cinereous Tinamou does not scratch for food, but instead they look under leaves or use their bill to dig.
Breeding
The Cinereous Tinamou nestNest
A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs or provide a place to live or raise offspring. They are usually made of some organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves; or may simply be a depression in the ground, or a hole in a tree, rock or building...
their eggs on the forest floor. They are also polygamous. The males will usually call out to attract the females. They lay about two eggs in season. These eggs appear salmon violet colored, and are considered very colorful. The young of cinereous tinamous are capable of moving around when they are hatched to the point that they can almost run as soon as they’re hatched.
Habitat
The Cinereous Tinamou lives in a lowland rainforest or swamp forest, up to 700 m (2,296.6 ft) altitude. They prefer to live near streams or thick swamp woods. Their preferred habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is thick, dark, and dense.
Range
This species is native to southern ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, southern Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
, Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
, northern and western Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, eastern Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, eastern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and northern Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
Conservation
The IUCN classifies this Tinamou as Least ConcernLeast Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
, with an occurrence range of 5900000 km² (2,278,002.7 sq mi).